Wire-clamp.



my Y. m fi N w S. GIBSON.

WIRE CLAMP.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 11, 1009.

Patented NW2, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUMMERS GIBSON, OF EDRAY, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO WINTERS GIBSON, OF

EDRAY, WEST VIRGINIA.

WIRE-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, SUMMERS GrmsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edray, in the county of Pocahontas and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful VVire-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of the invention are, generally, the provision in a merchantable form, of a device of the class above described, which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, facile in operation, and devoid of complicated parts; speciiically, the provision of a series of blocks of novel and improved construction, the same constituting cooperating jaws; the provision 4of novel means for housing the said jaws; the provision of novel means for assembling the component parts of the housing, and for adapting the same to receive a tension element; other and further objects being made manifest hereinafter as the description of the invention progresses.

The invention consists in the novel con struction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accom-l panying drawings, and particularly pointed out in that portion of this instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain distinctive and peculiar features of the device, it being understood, that, within the scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed, divers changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may bemade, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to 'denote corresponding parts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective, showing my device assembled, and in a position to exercise its functions, parts being broken away, better to illustrate the structure; Fig. 2 is a section in a plane normal to the plane of the wires 36 shown in Fig. 1 the view being designed to show in detail, the construction of certain of the blocks, denoted by the numerals 16 and 17 in Fig. 1, and dieringslightly in construction from their fellows; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of one of the blocks; and Fig. 4 is a perspective of a simple wrench whereby the device may be operated.

In carrying out my invention, I provide primarily a frame comprising side strips 1. These side strips 1 at their upper and lower extremities, are united by head blocks 2, which, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, are notched at their ends, to form arms, adapted to receive the ends of the side strips 1. Bolts 8, or like elements adapted toa similar end, may b e passed transversely through the arms of the head blocks 2, and through the extremities of the side strips 1, whereby the frame may be assembled in a rigid and durable manner.

The immediate means whereby the wires 36, constituting the fence to be stretched, are gripped preparatory to the stretching operation, constitute a series of blocks 4 which are terminally disposed between the side strips 1, the said side strips and the blocks being provided with interlocking elements, which,'in the present instance, take the form of tongues 5, disposed longitudinally of the adjacent faces of the sidestrips 1, and grooves 6, located in the ends of the blocks 4,l and adapted to receive the tongues 5, whereby the said blocks may be mounted for sliding movement, longitudinally of the strips 1, in the frame. These blocks 4 constitute cooperating jaws adapted to receive the wires 36 of the fence, and means are provided for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation, the said means in "the present instance, consisting of a screw "9 which is journaled for rotation in an aperture in one of the head blocks 2. This screw 9 is adapted to bear, at its lower extremity, upon the terminal block 4 of the series, and in order that the screen may be rotated readily, thesaid screw is provided at its upper extremity, with a polygonal head 10. In order that the wires 3G may not slip laterally from between the blocks 4, before the pressure of the screw 9 has been applied, each of said blocks is provided, upon its lower face, with depending pins 7 adapted to register in apertures 8 provided for their reception in the upper face of the block next beneath it.

' In order to reinforce and to strengthen the device, and in order likewise, to provide suitable means whereby a tension element may be assembled with the device, eye-bolts 15 are passed transversely throughthe side strips 1. It is obvious, from an examination of the drawing, that thesev eye *bolts 15,

which constitute tie members, are disposed Referring particularly to Fig. 2, wherein` the construction of the blocks 16 and 17 is most clearly shown, it will be seen that the upper block 16 is transversely slotted as denoted by the numeral 13, in its lower face, to straddle the tie member 15 which is disposed between it and the block 17. The block 17, in its turn, is transversely slotted in its upper face, as denoted by the numeral 19, in order that it, like the block 16, may straddle the tie member 15, when the series of blocks are reciprocated between the side strips 1. It may be stated that the blocks 16 and 17 are duplicates of each other, save for the fact that one of them is provided with the pins 7, the other being provided with the apertures 8, adapted to receive said pins.

The eye-bolts 15 may be terminally provided with hooks 20, carrying, removably, the extremities of a crotch-line 21. Any suitable means for applying tension to the wires 36, may be assembled with the crotchline 21, and these tension means may comprise a block and falls, or other common devices. I have, however, provided a stretching member 25 of simple and eiiicient construction, adapted to be assembled with the crotch-line 21.

The stretching member 25 is provided with an aperture adapted to receive a chain 32 or like element, whereby the stretching member may be assembled with its support, the same, in the present instance, being shown in the form of a post 33. The stretching member may be assembled with the frame, by means of a flexible element 34, which being wound at one extremity about the drum of the stretching member 25, is assembled at the other extremity with the crotch-line 21.

The device, in its operation and maintenance, calls for no special tools. However, in Fig. 4, I have shown a simple form of wrench adapted to be used in connection with the device. This wrench, which is denoted by the numeral 14, is fashioned from a straight bar of metal, one end of which is notched as denoted by the numeral 11 to receive the polygonal head 10 of the screw 9. Intermediate its ends, the wrench 14 is apertured as denoted by the numeral 12, the aperture 12 conforming in its contour to the outline of the head 10.

It will be noted, upon reference to Fig. 2, that the blocks 4 are extended laterally upon either side of the side strips 1, to form, upon Thus, the wires, constituting the fence, may f be mounted in the device in the position indicated by the numeral 40 in Fig. 2, or,

in the position indicated by the numeral In practical operation, the screw 9 is rotated, so that the blocks 4 may have sufficient play longitudinally of the side strips 1, to allow the pins 7 to clear the apertures 8. The wires 36 are then disposed between the adjacent faces of the blocks 4, and within the pins 7, the screw 9 then being rotated to bring all of said blocks into mutual gripping relation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent isz- 1. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising side strips; a series of blocks terminally disposed between the side strips and slidable therebetween, longitudinally of the strips, the blocks being laterally extended upon either side of the frame to form coperating jaws; and means for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation.

2. In a device of the class described, frame comprising side strips; a series of blocks terminally disposed between the strips, and slidable therebetween, longitudinally of the strips, the blocks being laterally extended to form coperating jaws upon either side of the frame, the blocks and the strips being provided with interlocking elements; and means for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising side strips; a series of blocks terminally disposed between the strips and slidable therebetween, longitudinally of the strips, the blocks and the strips being provided with interlocking elements; and means for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising side strips; a transverse tie member uniting the strips and terminally provided with means for receiving a tension member; a series of blocks constituting coperating jaws, terminally mounted between the strips, and slidable therebetween, certain of the blocks being cut away to straddle the tie member; andmeans for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising side strips; a transverse tie member uniting the strips, and terminally provided with means for receiving a tension member; a series of blocks, constituting coperating jaws, terminally mounted between the strips and slidable therebetween,

certain of the blocks being out away to straddle the tie member; the blocks and the strips being provided With interlocking elements; and means for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising side strips; a transverse tie member uniting the strips, and terminally provided with means for receiving a tension member; a series of blocks mounted between the strips, and slidable therebetween, longitudinally of the strips, certain of the blocks being cut away to straddle the tie member; the blocks and the strips being provided with interlocking elements and the blocks being laterally extended upon either side of the frame, to form coperating jaws; and means for moving the blocks into mutual gripping relation.

7. In a device of the class described, a

frame comprising side strips; a transverse tie member uniting the strips and terminally provided with means for engaging a ten tion member; a series of blocks treminally mounted between the strips and slidable therebetween, longitudinally of the strips, certain of the blocks being out away to straddle the tie member; the blocks being laterally extended to form coperating aws upon either side of the frame; and means for moving the blocks into mutual gripping rela-tion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SUMMERS GIBSON.

I'Vitnesses GEO. H. VVAUGH, GEORGE P. BAXTER. 

